Getting Some History At The Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre

Chiang Mai in Thailand has a nice museum in the middle of the city, a good place to get an overview of the local history. It presents a march through time by way of artifacts and, always a favorite, dioramas. History in miniature, yummy!

In the beginning, there was a tree. OK, maybe some bricks, the sign of the start of any civilization.

Clear some land, plant some of your own trees, commandeer an elephant for the hard work.

Establish some religion in a pretty area.

Create a royal family, enlist your elephants for a grand procession. More clearing and planting, now time for a little cabin and crops.

Back to work for the elephants, there is a forest to clear, timber to create.

Around Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom is the biggest temple complex at Angkor and trekking through every section takes the better part of a day. What are some highlights?

Heading in from Angkor Wat, rows of gods and demons flank the road.

One of many gates in the complex. Elephants, can't go wrong with that theme, grand on a grand scale.

Baphuon, taken apart during the Khmer Rouge regime.

Plans were lost, many stones still scattered around. The highlight of Baphuon is around the back. A giant, reclining Buddha awaits, slyly swallowed up within a larger wall. Squint and you can see the relaxed head.

The cute pyramid called Phimeanakas.

Angkor Thom details, praying and small ruins.

Front view of Baphuon.

Elephant Sighting

The Kumbh Mela is full of all sorts of surprises. What's that, way in the distance up the rise?

Hello elephant. What's an event in India without a few elephants? Why not stop by for a little prayer?

Another day done, time to walk the elephant as the sun sets.

The Real Operation Dumbo Drop

It's nice to know the elephants at the large Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage near Kegalle, Sri Lanka aren't just loafing around, not earning their keep. A money-making opportunity presents itself all day long, every day, in the form of dung. Operation Dumbo Drop, indeed.

A sign at a local shop, illustrating the cheery transformation of piles of steaming sh*t to piles of beautiful paper. The best truth-in-advertsing we've ever seen.

The paper really is nice - handmade, dyed, cut and made into snazzy diaries, cards, anything that boring mass produced paper is used for. But not toilet paper, that would be so gross. Like eating your young? Another sign, truly showing the circle of life.

Someone photographing a sample in the wild. Amazing!